The Memphis-produced cosmic horror film collects its 8th accolade, securing Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi at the Chicago Horror Film Festival.
“Watching our indie cosmic horror film achieve eight awards and resonate so deeply with festivals and audiences globally has been truly amazing” – Jim Weter
— Jim Weter, Writer/Director”— Jim WeterCHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Dreams of a Dead God, a found-footage cosmic horror film created in Memphis, claimed the Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi award at the 28th Annual Chicago Horror Film Festival, representing the eighth honor for this independent project throughout its 2026 festival circuit.
Penned and directed by Memphis filmmaker Jim Weter, Dreams of a Dead God is a 36-minute, found-footage cosmic horror piece skillfully produced with a small cast, blending practical and special effects on a set that Weter personally constructed and designed.
Taking place in October 1936, the story is revealed through the recorded interrogation of a captured murderer and kidnapper. What starts as a probe into multiple crimes gradually pushes the boundaries of reality and sanity, leading investigators to confront an increasingly troubling notion: the prisoner before them could actually be honest.
Official Tagline: October, 1936: sanity and reality itself are tested during the filmed interrogation of a kidnapper and murderer with ties to an ancient cult.
Instead of situating found footage in a modern setting, Dreams of a Dead God employs the format as a portal to a different time, offering its narrative as a surviving filmed document of events not intended for viewing.
Drawing inspiration from writers featured in Weird Tales magazine, such as H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and Robert Bloch, the film presents an original tale rooted in the Lovecraftian cosmic horror tradition, following the events of Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu. The narrative delves into key genre themes: forbidden knowledge, ancient powers, the fragility of sanity, and humanity’s minor role in a universe it cannot fully grasp.
The cast includes Cameron J. Crawford, Christopher Steinmetz, Larshay Watson, Jerry Kimble Jr., and Ryan Gilliam—all actors from the Memphis area involved in film and stage. The entire production relied on Memphis-area talent, with numerous cast and crew members having worked alongside Weter for over 15 years on independent film ventures.
This Chicago win represents the most recent milestone in an expanding festival journey. Dreams of a Dead God recently garnered Best Picture at Atlanta’s 2026 Bloody Peach Film Festival, where Memphis actor Larshay Watson also earned Best Lead Actor for his role as Detective Linden.
Additional accolades comprise Best Lead Actress for Memphis performer J. Cameron Crawford at the 2026 Imaginarium Indie Film Festival in Louisville, Kentucky; Audience Choice Award at the Porchlight Film Festival in Jonesboro, Arkansas; Best Featurette at the Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Best Extended Short Film at the Dunwich Horror Festival in Providence, Rhode Island.
The film’s festival circuit continues to broaden, with the past weekend alone adding six more selections: Horror Haven Film Expo in Evansville, Indiana; The Thing in the Basement Horror Festival in Seattle, Washington; Out of the Cellar Horror Fest in Sacramento, California; SamhainBaucogna International Film Festival in Spain; Rocket City Short Film Festival in Huntsville, Alabama; and Buried Alive Film Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.
This growing national and international success occurs despite the film being turned down by its hometown Indie Memphis Film Festival, making its reception elsewhere especially significant to the Memphis filmmakers involved.
“Dreams of a Dead God represents my own humble contribution to the cosmic horror mythos,” said Weter. “It has been incredible to see audiences and festivals around the world connect with this story, especially knowing it began as a project created here in Memphis with local filmmakers and actors.”
Following its festival run, Dreams of a Dead God is scheduled to become available to audiences later in 2026.
Follow the film on the Cellardoor Cinema Facebook page.
About the Filmmaker:
Jim Weter is an award winning, Memphis filmmaker whose work has screened at festivals world-wide. To date, Jim's work includes 6 feature films and over 20 short films, winning various awards and multiple film festivals both in the US and abroad. Weter was also the festival director and founder of the former Unreal Film Festival in Memphis, TN who championed local and indie productions.
Jim Weter
Cellardoor Cinema
info@cellardoorcinema.com
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“Dreams of a Dead God” (2026) – Official Trailer
